HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Rim improves to 5-0 with victory

DESERT HOT SPRINGS - With the Mountain Valley League season fast approaching, Rim of the World got that last and very impressive tuneup it needed with Friday's 42-28 nonleague victory over Desert Hot Springs.

Rim of the World remained undefeated with its fifth consecutive win and hosts Notre Dame next week in a Mountain Valley League opener.

"We're 5-0 and I'm happy about that," Rim coach Bob Gradillas said. "But we have some work to do."

It was Rim's second consecutive win over Desert Hot Springs, with the Fighting Scots improving to 5-2 against the Golden Eagles.

"We know the league is tough," Gradillas said. "There are some tough teams in the league. But we will be ready. We'll be ready."

The Scots held the Golden Eagles scoreless on five of their last six possessions. That stretch included two sacks by Justin Hardin and another by Nathan Pesquera.

But two touchdown passes late in the game may be cause for some concern.

"We have concerns," Gradillas said. "Our secondary didn't play well."

Rim led 21-14 at halftime, but in the third quarter the Scots started to pull away.

The Scots took a 28-14 lead early in the third quarter when Chase Bodar scored on a 3-yard run. Rim of the World then broke the game open when Jacob Taylor scored his second touchdown of the game on a 68-yard run that put the Scots up 35-14 in the waning moments of the third quarter.

"We made some adjustments to our blocking schemes," Gradillas said. "They were cutting us up front. But you have to give our kids credit for that, for making the adjustments."

Both teams put up some solid numbers in the first half. Rim's Taylor rushed for 127 yards and the Scots produced 210 yards in total offense in the first quarters of play.

The game went back and forth for most of the second quarter, but Rim managed to regain control just before halftime, putting together a quick 8-play drive spanning 63 yards, taking a 21-14 lead when Leighton Hernandez connected with Jobani Barrios on a 15-yard touchdown pass.

Both teams, however, had their moments in the first quarter. The early going belonged to Rim of the World as the Fighting Scots scored on their first two possessions.

Then the game took a turn toward Desert Hot Springs, which scored twice to tie the score 14-14 at the end of the first quarter.